Waiting for the Supply Shock

David Dayen The American Prospect
It’s coming, and we know approximately when. The economy contracted by 0.3 percent, and imports have contracted. Tariffs of 145 percent on China are a trade embargo for many sectors. China’s retaliatory measures are an embargo in the other direction.

Probationary Federal Employees Targeted for Mass Purge

David Dayen The American Prospect
As many as 200,000 federal employees with weaker civil service protections could be let go. But they are supposed to only be fired for poor performance. FAA director Mike Whitaker resigned, effective January 20.

Will the Senate Take Off the Handcuffs?

David Dayen The American Prospect
The Harris-Walz ticket and every Democrat are promising big things. But the filibuster makes that agenda impossible. Will they finally remove that barrier?

America Is Not a Democracy

David Dayen The American Prospect
The movement to save democracy from threats is too quick to overlook the problems that have been present since the founding.

An Unequal Tax Trade

David Dayen The American Prospect
The business tax credits in the Wyden-Smith deal are five times as generous as the Child Tax Credit expansion, according to government scorekeepers.

What Might Finally Resolve the Hollywood Strikes

David Dayen The American Prospect
The unions raised the need for antitrust enforcement, and the Biden administration’s top antitrust cops paid attention. The one-two punch of simultaneous WGA and SAG strikes, for the first time in 60 years, has stalled out virtually all productions.